Current Affairs - Places

The unveiling of the statue of renowned social reformer Mannathu Padmanabhan and the inauguration of the Mannam Smrithi Mandapam took place in New Delhi at the Mannam International Centre in Dwarka. The event was organised by the Nair Service Society (NSS), Delhi, and attended by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, along with other dignitaries. The memorial honours Padmanabhan's lifelong efforts toward social justice, equality, and reform. The ceremony also included a tree plantation drive under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, highlighting the importance of environmental conservation alongside commemorating his legacy.

The foundation stone for the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research was laid in Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda. The project will upgrade the existing ICMR field station into a multidisciplinary research hub focused on high-altitude physiology, acclimatisation, maternal and child health, disaster medicine, and tribal health. The centre will also integrate telemedicine, digital health platforms, and drone-enabled healthcare logistics to improve medical services in remote Himalayan regions. It will work in collaboration with the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), DRDO, and the Himachal Pradesh Government to advance high-altitude public health research.

Nagpur, Maharashtra, is hosting the 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers’ Meeting on July 11–12, 2026, under India’s BRICS Chairship. Chaired by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the meeting follows the Transport Working Group session and focuses on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS).” Key discussions include the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), transport decarbonisation, AI-based technologies, resilient logistics and supply chains, urban mobility, circular economy practices, and the development of multi-modal infrastructure. The meeting marks the third edition of the BRICS Transport Ministers’ forum after previous sessions hosted by Russia and Brazil.

The Delhi government has made the Pink Saheli Smart Card mandatory for women to continue enjoying free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and DIMTS (Cluster) buses from 1 August 2026. The initiative replaces the existing paper-based pink ticket system with a digital smart card to improve transparency, reduce paper usage, simplify ticket verification, and prevent misuse of the scheme. Eligible women must apply for the card, carry it while travelling, and tap it on the card reader when boarding the bus. The government has also established multiple registration centres and launched awareness campaigns to ensure smooth implementation of the new digital system.

Geneva has been selected as the host city for the Global AI Summit, which will be held alongside the ITU AI for Good Global Summit. The event aims to bring together world leaders, policymakers, researchers, technology companies, and international organisations to discuss artificial intelligence governance, innovation, ethics, and responsible development. Geneva was chosen because of its long-standing role as a global diplomatic hub and its concentration of United Nations agencies, humanitarian organisations, research institutions, and international conferences. The summit is expected to strengthen global cooperation and promote the responsible use of AI technologies worldwide.